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About this text

  • Title: An Humorous Day's Mirth (Modern)
  • Editor: Eleanor Lowe
  • Coordinating editor: Brett Greatley-Hirsch
  • General textual editor: Helen Ostovich
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-513-1

    Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: George Chapman
    Editor: Eleanor Lowe
    Peer Reviewed

    An Humorous Day's Mirth (Modern)

    1017.1[Scene 8]
    Enter Verone with his napkin upon his shoulder, and his man Jaques with another, and his son [Boy] bringing 1020in cloth and napkins.
    Verone
    Come on, my masters, shadow these tables with their white veils, accomplish the court-cupboard, wait diligently today for my credit and your own, that if the 1025meat should chance to be raw, yet your behaviours being neither rude nor raw, may excuse it. Or if the meat should chance to be tough, be you tender over them in your attendance, that the one may bear with the other.
    Jaques
    Faith, some of them be so hard to please, finding 1030fault with your cheer and discommending your wine, saying they fare better at Valere始s for half the money.
    Besides, if there be any chibols in your napkins, they say your nose or ours have dropped on them, and then they throw them about the house.
    1035Verone
    But these be small faults. You may bear with them. Young gentlemen and wild heads will be doing.
    Enter [Jaquena] the Maid.
    Jaquena
    Come, whose wit was it to cover in this room, in the name of God, I trow?
    Why, I hope this room is as fair as the other.
    Jaquena
    In your foolish opinion. You might have told a wise body so and kept yourself a fool still.
    I cry you mercy. How bitter you are in your proverbs.
    1045Jaquena
    So bitter I am, sir.
    [Jaquena removes the cloth from the table nearest her]
    Verone
    [Aside] Oh, sweet Jaquena, I dare not say I love thee.
    Jaques
    Must you control us, you proud baggage, you?
    Jaquena
    Baggage? You are a knave to call me baggage.
    Jaques
    A knave? My master shall know that.
    1050Verone
    [Aside] I will not see them.
    Jaques
    Master, here is your maid uses herself so saucily that one house shall not hold us two long, God willing.
    Verone
    Come hither, hussy. [Aside to Jaquena] Pardon me, sweet Jaquena. 1055I must make an angry face outwardly, though I smile inwardly.
    Jaquena
    Say what you will to me, sir.
    Verone
    [Aloud] Oh, you are a fine gossip. Can I not keep honest servants in my house, but you must control them, you 1060must be their mistress?
    Jaquena
    Why, I did but take up the cloth, because my mistress would have the dinner in another room, and he called me baggage.
    1065Jaques
    You called me knave and fool, I thank you, small bones.
    Jaquena
    Go to, go to, she were wise enough would talk with you.
    Go thy ways for the proudest harlotry that ever 1070came in our house.
    [Exit Jaquena.]
    Verone
    Let her alone, boy. I have schooled her, I warrant thee. She shall not be my maid long, if I can help it.
    No, I think so, sir. But what, shall I take up the cloth?
    1075Verone
    No, let the cloth lie. Hither they始ll come first, I am sure of it. Then if they will dine in the other room, they shall.
    Enter Rowley.
    Rowley
    Good morrow, my host. Is nobody come yet?
    Verone
    Your worship is the first, sir.
    1080Rowley
    I was invited by my cousin, Colinet to see your jewels.
    Verone
    I thank his worship and yours.
    Rowley
    Here始s a pretty place for an ordinary. I am very sorry I have not used to come to ordinaries.
    1085Verone
    I hope we shall have your company hereafter.
    Rowley
    You are very like to.
    Enter Berger.
    Berger
    Good morrow, my host, good morrow, good Monsieur Rowley.
    1090Rowley
    Good morrow to you, sir.
    Berger
    What, are we two the first? Give始s the cards, here. Come, this gentleman and I will go to cards while dinner be ready.
    Rowley
    No, truly, I cannot play at cards.
    1095Berger
    How! Not play? Oh, for shame, say not so. How can a young gentleman spend his time but in play and in courting his mistress? Come, use this, lest youth take too much of the other.
    Rowley
    Faith, I cannot play, and yet I care not so much to venture two or three crowns with you.
    Berger
    Oh, I thought what I should find of you. I pray God I have not met with my match.
    Rowley
    No, trust me, sir, I cannot play.
    1105Berger
    Hark you, my host, have you a pipe of good tobacco?
    Verone
    The best in the town. Boy, dry a leaf.
    [Aside] There始s none in the house, sir.
    Verone
    [Aside] Dry a dock leaf.
    [Boy exits and returns with a pipe.]
    1110Berger
    My host, do you know Monsieur Blanvel?
    Verone
    Yea, passing well, sir.
    Berger
    Why, he was taken learning tricks at old Lucilla始s house, the muster-mistress of all the smock-tearers in Paris, and both the bawd and the pander were carried to the 1115dungeon.
    Verone
    There was dungeon upon dungeon. But call you her the muster-mistress of all the smock-tearers in Paris?
    Berger
    Yea, for she hath them all trained up afore her.
    Enter Blanvel.
    1120Blanvel
    Good morrow, my host; good morrow, gentlemen all.
    Verone
    Good morrow, Monsieur Blanvel. I am glad of your quick delivery.
    Blanvel
    Delivery? What, didst thou think I was with child?
    Verone
    Yea, of a dungeon.
    1125Blanvel
    Why, how knew you that?
    Rowley
    Why, Berger told us.
    Blanvel
    Berger, who told you of it?
    Berger
    One that I heard, by the Lord.
    Blanvel
    Oh, excellent. You are still playing the wag.
    1130Enter Lemot and Moren.
    Lemot
    Good morrow, gentlemen all; good morrow, good Monsieur Rowley.
    Rowley
    At your service.
    Lemot
    I pray, my lord, look what a pretty falling-band he hath. 1135始Tis pretty fantastical, as I have seen, made with good judgement, great show, and but little cost.
    Moren
    And so it is, I promise you. Who made it, I pray?
    Rowley
    I know not, i始faith. I bought it by chance.
    1140Lemot
    It is a very pretty one; make much of it.
    Enter Catalian sweating.
    Catalian
    Boy, I prithee call for a coarse napkin. [Exit Boy.] Good morrow, gentlemen. I would you had been at the tennis-court: you should have seen me abeat Monsieur Besan, and I 1145gave him fifteen and all his faults.
    Lemot
    Thou didst more for him than ever God will do for thee.
    Catalian
    Jaques, I prithee fill me a cup of canary, three parts water.
    [Exit Jaques.]
    1150Lemot
    You shall have all water, an if it please you.
    Enter [Jaquena the] Maid.
    Jaquena
    Who called for a coarse napkin?
    Catalian
    Marry I, sweetheart. Do you take the pains to bring it yourself? Have at you, by my host始s leave.
    [He kisses her.]
    1155Jaquena
    Away, sir, fie, for shame.
    Catalian
    Hark you, my host, you must marry this young wench. You do her mighty wrong else.
    Verone
    Oh, sir, you are a merry man.
    [Exit Verone and Jaquena.]
    Enter Foyes and Labesha
    1160Foyes
    Good morrow, gentlemen. You see I am as good as my word.
    Moren
    You are, sir, and I am very glad of it.
    Lemot
    You are welcome, Monsieur Foyes. [To Labesha] But you are not, no, not you.
    1165Labesha
    No? Welcome that gentleman, 始tis no matter for me.
    Lemot
    How, sir? No matter for you. By this rush, I am angry with you, as if all our loves protested unto you were dissembled. No matter for you?
    Labesha
    Nay, sweet Lemot, be not angry. I did but jest, as I am 1170a gentleman.
    Lemot
    Yea, but there始s a difference of jesting. You wrong all our affections in so doing.
    Labesha
    Faith and troth, I did not, and I hope sirs you take it not so.
    ‘No matter for me始, 始twas very unkindly said, I must needs say so.
    Labesha
    You see how they love me.
    Foyes
    I do, sir, and I am very glad of it.
    Labesha
    And I hope, Lemot, you are not angry with me still.
    1180Lemot
    No, faith, I am not so very a fool to be angry with one that cares not for me.
    Labesha
    Do not I care for you? Nay, then.
    [He weeps.]
    Catalian
    What, dost thou cry?
    Labesha
    Nay, I do not cry, but my stomach waters to think 1185that you should take it so heavily. If I do not wish that I were cut into three pieces, and that these pieces were turned into three black puddings, and that these three black puddings were turned into three of the fairest ladies in the land for your sake, I would I were hanged. What a devil can 1190you have more than my poor heart?
    Catalian
    Well, hark you, Lemot, in good faith you are to blame to put him to this unkindness. I prithee, be friends with him.
    Lemot
    Well, I am content to put up this unkindness for 1195this once. But while you live take heed of ‘no matter for me始.
    Labesha
    Why, is it such a heinous word?
    Lemot
    Oh, the heinousest word in the world.
    Labesha
    Well, I始ll never speak it more, as I am a gentleman.
    1200Lemot
    No, I pray do not.
    Foyes
    My lord, will your lordship go to cards?
    Moren
    Yea, with you, Monsieur Foyes.
    Rowley
    Lemot, will you play?
    Lemot
    Pardon, good Monsieur Rowley. If I had any 1205disposition to gaming your company should draw me beforeany man始s here.
    Foyes
    Labesha, what, will you play?
    Labesha
    Play, yea, with all my heart. I pray lend me threepence.
    1210Rowley
    I始ll play no more.
    Catalian
    Why, have you won or lost?
    Rowley
    Faith, I have lost two or three crowns.
    Catalian
    Well, to him again, I始ll be your half.
    Lemot
    Sirrah Catalian, while they are playing at cards, 1215thou and I will have some excellent sport. [Aside to Catalian] Sirrah, dost thou know that same gentleman there? [Indicating Rowley]
    Catalian
    [Aside to Lemot] No, i始faith, what is he?
    Lemot
    [Aside to Catalian] A very fine gull and a neat reveller, one that始s heir to a great living, yet his father keeps him so short, that his
    1220shirts will scant cover the bottom of his belly, for all his gay outside; but the linings be very foul and sweaty, yea, and perhaps lousy, with despising the vain shifts of the world.
    Catalian
    [Aside to Lemot] But he hath gotten good store of money now, 1225methinks.
    Lemot
    [Aside to Catalian] Yea, and I wonder of it. Some ancient serving-man of his father始s that hath gotten forty shillings in fifty years upon his great good husbandry, he swearing monstrous oaths to pay him again, and besides to do him a good 1230turn (when God shall hear his prayer for his father) hath lent it him, I warrant you. But, howsoever, we must speak him fair.
    Catalian
    [Aside to Lemot] Oh, what else!
    Lemot
    [Aloud] God save sweet Monsieur Rowley. What, lose or 1235win, lose or win?
    Rowley
    Faith, sir, save myself and lose my money.
    Lemot
    There始s a proverb hit dead in the neck like a cony. [Aside to Catalian] Why, hark thee, Catalian; I could have told thee before what he would have said.
    1240Catalian
    [Aside to Lemot] I do not think so.
    Lemot
    [Aside to Catalian] No? Thou seest here始s a fine plump of gallants, such as think their wits singular, and their selves rarely accomplished. Yet to show thee how brittle their wits be, I will 1245speak to them severally, and I will tell thee before what they shall answer me.
    Catalian
    [Aside to Lemot] That始s excellent, let始s see that, i始faith.
    Lemot
    [Aside to Catalian] Whatsoever I say to Monsieur Rowley, he shall say, ‘Oh, sir, you may see an ill weed grows apace始.
    1250Catalian.
    [Aside to Lemot] Come, let始s see.
    Lemot
    [Aloud] Now, Monsieur Rowley, methinks you are exceedingly grown since your to Paris.
    Rowley
    Oh, sir, you may see an ill weed grows apace.
    Catalian
    [Aside to Lemot] This is excellent, forward, sir, I pray.
    1255Lemot
    [Aside to Catalian] Whatsoe始er I say to Labesha, he shall answer me, ‘Black will bear no other hue始, and that same old Justice, as greedy of a stale proverb, he shall come in the neck of that and say, ‘Black is a pearl in a woman始s eye始.
    Catalian
    [Aside to Lemot] Yea, much, i始faith.
    1260Lemot
    [Aside to Catalian] Look thee, here comes hither Labesha. [Aloud] Catalian and I have been talking of thy complexion, and I say that all the fair ladies in France would have been in love with thee, but that thou art so black.
    Labesha
    Oh, sir, black will bear no other hue.
    1265Foyes
    Oh, sir, black is a pearl in a woman始s eye.
    Lemot
    You say true, sir, you say true, sir. [Aside to Catalian] Sirrah Catalian, whatsoe始er I say to Berger that is so busy at cards, he shall answer me, ‘始Sblood, I do not mean to die as long as I can see one alive始.
    1270Catalian
    [Aside to Lemot] Come, let us see you.
    Lemot
    [Aloud] Why, Berger, I thought thou hadst been dead. I have not heard thee chide all this while.
    Berger
    始Sblood, I do not mean to die as long as I can see one alive.
    1275Catalian
    [Aside to Lemot] Why, but hark you, Lemot, I hope you cannot make this lord answer so roundly.
    Lemot
    [Aside to Catalian] Oh, as right as any of them all, and he shall answer me with an old Latin proverb, that is, usus promptos facit.
    1280Catalian
    [Aside to Lemot] Once more, let始s see.
    Lemot
    [Aloud] My lord, your lordship could not play at this game very lately, and now methinks you are grown exceeding perfect.
    Moren
    Oh, sir, you may see, usus promptos facit.
    1285Enter Jaques.
    Jaques
    Monsieur Lemot, here is a gentleman and two gentlewomen do desire to speak with you.
    Lemot
    What, are they come? Jaques, convey them into the inward parlour by the inwarde room, and there is a 1290brace of crowns for thy labour,
    but let nobody know of their being here.
    Jaques
    I warrant you, sir.
    [Exit Jaques.]
    Lemot
    See where they come. Welcome, my good lord and ladies, I始ll come to you presently. [Aside] So, now the sport begins, 1295I shall start the disguised King plaguily. Nay, I shall put the lady that loves me in a monstrous fright when her husband comes and finds her here.
    [Enter Boy.]
    [To Lemot] The gentleman and the two gentlewomen desires your company.
    1300Lemot
    I始ll come to them presently.
    The Boy speaks in Foyes始s ear.
    Foyes
    Gentlemen, I始ll go speak with one, and come to you presently.
    [Exit Foyes.]
    Lemot
    My lord, I would speak a word with your lordship, if it were not for interrupting your game.
    1305Moren
    No, I have done, Lemot.
    Lemot
    My lord, there must a couple of ladies dine with us today.
    Moren
    Ladies? God始s my life, I must be gone.
    Lemot
    Why, hark you, my lord, I knew not of 1310their coming, I protest to your lordship, and would you have me turn such fair ladies as these are away?
    Moren
    Yea, but hark you, Lemot, did not you hear me swear to my wife that I would not tarry if there 1315were any women? I wonder you would suffer any to come there.
    Lemot
    Why, you swore but by a kiss, and kisses are no holy things, you know that.
    Moren
    Why, but hark you, Lemot, indeed I would be 1320very loath to do anything, that, if my wife should know it, should displease her.
    Lemot
    Nay, then you are to obsequious. Hark you, let me entreat you, and I始ll tell you in secret, you shall have no worse company than the King始s.
    1325Moren
    Why, will the King be there?
    Lemot
    Yea, though disguised.
    Moren
    Who are the ladies?
    Lemot
    The flowers of Paris, I can tell you: fair countess Florila and the lady Martia.
    1330Enter Jaques.
    Jaques
    Monsieur Lemot, the gentleman and the two gentlewomen desire your company.
    Lemot
    I始ll come to them straight. But, Jaques, come hither, I prithee. Go to Labesha and tell him that the Countess 1335Florila and the lady Martia be here at thy master始s house, and if it come in question hereafter, deny that thou told him any such thing.
    Jaques
    What, is this all? 始Sblood, I始ll deny it and forswear it too.
    1340Lemot
    My lord, I始ll go and see the room be neat and fine, and come to you presently.
    Moren
    Yea, but, hark you, Lemot, I prithee take such order that they be not known of any women in the house.
    Lemot
    Oh, how should they? [Aside] Now to his wife go, i始faith!
    Exit.
    1345Jaques
    Hark you, Monsieur Labesha, I pray let me speak a word with you.
    Labesha
    With all my heart. I pray look to my stake, there始s threepence under the candlestick.
    Jaques
    I pray, sir, do you know the Countess Florila and 1350the Lady Martia?
    Labesha
    Do I know the Lady Martia? I knew her before she was borne. Why do you ask me?
    Jaques
    Why, they are both here at my master始s house.
    Labesha
    What, is Mistress Martia at an ordinary?
    1355Jaques
    Yea, that she is.
    Labesha
    By skies and stones, I始ll go and tell her father.
    Exit.